Smoke and mirrors — that’s Jason Terry’s description for the cloudy thinking that distorts everyone’s thinking in the NBA at this time of year.

And out of that haze, after a week when the names of Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and even rookie Fab Melo were floated as the talking points in Danny Ainge’s trade discussions, the Celtics ended up with a fairly minor prize.

The Celtics president of basketball operations sent Jason Collins and the expiring contract of Leandro Barbosa to Washington for Jordan Crawford, the Wizards’ streaky 24-year-old shooting guard. Ainge and Doc Rivers have both said they would like to bring Barbosa back next year if he’s healthy.

They could still easily get their wish, considering that Barbosa is waiting to have knee surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee. He probably won’t see the inside of the Wizards locker room.

According to several accounts, though, talk between Ainge and the Clippers continued right up until the final hours yesterday. Garnett said during All-Star weekend that he would not waive his no-trade clause, and held true to his vow despite added pressure from Clippers guard Chris Paul.

According to a league source, Paul called Garnett and said that if he was open to joining the Clippers, then Paul would make it happen. Garnett, though, declined, expressing a desire to remain a Celtic.

Ainge’s wish list had been topped by the Clippers’ young duo of guard Eric Bledsoe and center DeAndre Jordan. The Clips, with an eye on trading part of the future for a deep playoff run now, focused their attention on Garnett.